Associate and assistant VPs appointed in public affairs and communication

Dennis K. Moore has been promoted to associate vice president for public affairs and communication, and Shannon Cullinan has been appointed assistant vice president of the division, according to Louis M. Nanni, the new division’s vice president.p. As director of public relations and information since 1990, Moore has served as the University’s principal spokesperson and media relations officer while also guiding its public relations and marketing activities. He joined the office in 1988.p. In his new position, Moore will remain a primary spokesperson for the University, working closely on communications issues and strategies with Nanni, the general counsel’s office and the president. He also will assist in the oversight of University marks and images, develop new initiatives to advance Notre Dame’s mission, play a primary role in coordinating special events, and continue to contribute to University publications.p. A Chicago native and former Notre Dame student, Moore spent 20 years in journalism and corporate communications before returning to the University. For 10 of those years he was a free-lance writer and consultant in the United States and Ireland. He also worked four years as executive editor of The Kiwanis Magazine in Chicago and four years as senior staff writer for Jackson, Mich.-based Consumers Power Company, one of the nation’s largest public utilities. As a Notre Dame student, he was a member of the founding staff of the student newspaper, The Observer.p. “Denny is highly respected both personally and professionally at the University,” Nanni said. “He possesses a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge, his instincts and experience in communications are exceptional, and he truly understands Notre Dame like few do.”p. Cullinan, who earned a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Notre Dame in 1993, will serve the public affairs and communication division as assistant vice president for administration. He will work with Nanni and the division’s department heads on strategic planning, budgeting issues, and personnel matters, and will coordinate special projects, including the University’s community relations efforts in the Northeast Neighborhood.p. Since graduating from Notre Dame, Cullinan has served in several leadership positions in both the profit and not-for-profit sectors, including four years as associate executive director and controller for the Center for the Homeless in South Bend. He also has worked as the human resources director and team leader for the youth service program City Year, Inc., in Chicago; president and chief executive officer of ACH Enterprises, LLC, a niche advertising company in South Bend; and assistant to the executive vice president at Notre Dame.p. Cullinan began work last fall on a master’s of business administration degree at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and plans to continue his studies in Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.p. “I had the pleasure of working with Shannon for four years at the Center for the Homeless,” said Nanni, formerly executive director of the agency. "He brings an abundance of talent and energy to this position, and I know he’ll make significant contributions as we continue to develop our new division.p. “With Denny and Shannon joining me in the central administration of the division, I believe we have created a leadership team that will build on a strong foundation in public affairs and communication while developing new and bold initiatives to better serve the University’s mission and the Notre Dame community.”p. Public relations and information will become two departments in the new structure: news and information and marketing communications.p. The other departments in the new division are community relations, government relations, University communications design, Notre Dame Magazine, and photography and television.